Awamori

''Awamori'' (, Okinawan: , āmui'') is an alcoholic beverage indigenous and unique to Okinawa, Japan. It is made from long grain indica rice, and is not a direct product of brewing (like ''sake'') but of distillation (like ''shōchū''). The majority of ''awamori'' made today uses indica rice imported from Thailand, as the local production is largely insufficient to meet domestic demand.

''Awamori'' is typically 60–86 proof (30–43% alcohol), although "export" brands (including brands shipped to mainland Japan) are increasingly 50 proof (25% alcohol). Some styles (notably '' hanazake'') are 120 proof (60%) and are flammable. ''Awamori'' is aged in traditional clay pots to improve its flavor and mellowness.

The most popular way to drink ''awamori'' is with water and ice. When served in a restaurant in Okinawa, it will nearly always be accompanied by a container of ice and carafe of water. ''Awamori'' can also be drunk straight, on the rocks, and in cocktails. Traditionally, ''awamori'' was served in a ''kara-kara'', a small earthen vessel with a small clay marble inside. The marble would make a distinctive "kara-kara" sound to let people know the vessel was empty. These vessels are still found in Okinawa, but the clay marbles are often absent.

Another name for ''awamori'' used in Okinawa is , or ''shima'' for short.

In general, the price of ''awamori'' increases with the beverage's age.

'' Kōrēgusu'' is a type of hot sauce made of chillis infused in ''awamori'' and is a popular condiment to Okinawan dishes such as Okinawa soba.

History

''Awamori'' owes its existence to Okinawa's trading history. It originates from the Thai drink '' Lao Khao'' (เหล้าขาว). The technique of distilling reached Okinawa from Thailand (formerly known as Ayutthaya Kingdom) in the 15th century, a time when Okinawa served as a major trading intermediary between Southeast Asia, China, and Japan. All ''awamori'' is made from Thai rice ("thai-mai"). The Okinawans refined the distillation process, incorporating techniques from nearby countries, making it more suitable for the subtropical climate and incorporating the unique local black koji mold. From the 15th to 19th century, ''awamori'' was sent as a tribute to Okinawa's powerful neighbors, China and Japan.

Before April 1983, ''awamori'' was labelled as a second class ''shochu''; it is now labelled as "authentic ''awamori''".

In 2017, facing declining sales in the home market, three of Okinawa's prominent Awamori distilleries combined their efforts to introduce ''awamori'' to overseas markets, specifically to the US and Europe. The product, labelled as RYUKYU 1429 Authentic Ryukyu Awamori made its European debut in the UK in June 2019.

Production

Although ''awamori'' is a distilled rice liquor, it differs from Japanese '' shochu'' in several ways. ''Awamori'' is made in a single fermentation while ''shochu'' usually uses two fermentations. Furthermore, ''awamori'' uses Thai-style, long-grained Indica crushed rice rather than the short-grained Japonica usually used in ''shochu'' production. Finally, awamori exclusively uses black ''koji'' mold ('' Aspergillus awamori'') indigenous to Okinawa, while Japanese ''shochu'' uses white ('' aspergillus kawachii''), black, and yellow (''Aspergillus oryzae'') koji molds.

''Kusu''

When ''awamori'' is aged for three years or more, it is called . This pronunciation, which derives from Okinawan, is unique to ''awamori''; elsewhere in Japan, the word is pronounced "''koshu''" and refers to aged ''sake''. Legally, in order to earn the designation "''kusu''", the ''awamori'' must be aged for a minimum of three years. If a specific age is noted, then all of the contents must be of at least that age. ''Awamori'' is aged underground in constant cool temperatures in clay pots or vases. Containers of awamori can be found in the caves of Okinawa.

Before the Battle of Okinawa during World War II, 200- and even 300-year-old ''kusu'' existed, but most of the oldest ''kusu'' were lost in the battle. However, the Shikina Distillery in Shuri own 100- and 150-year old ''kusu'' which are thought to be to be the oldest surviving. There are ongoing attempts to once again produce 200- and 300- year old ''kusu.''

''Hanazake''

On Yonaguni, Japan's westernmost island, the three distilleries of Donan, Yonaguni and Maifuna produce a variant of ''awamori'' called , lit. "flower liquor", which has an alcohol content of 60%. Originally intended for religious ceremonies, ''hanazake'' is traditionally consumed straight.

Etymology

The earliest known use of the term ''awamori'' (泡盛) is in a 1671 record of a gift from King Shō Tei of the Ryukyu Kingdom to the fourth ''shōgun'', Tokugawa Ietsuna. Awamori was sent as a gift to the shogunate prior to 1671, but it was recorded as shōchū (焼酒 or 焼酎) in earlier records.

Several explanations exist for the etymology of the word ''awamori''. The Okinawan historian Iha Fuyū believed that the name derives from the word for millet (, ''awa''), compounded with a verb-derived noun meaning "heaped amount; serving" (, ''mori''). On this theory, the word was recorded incorrectly with the first character as "bubble, foam" (, ''awa'') rather than the character for millet (, ''awa''). Millet was a raw material used to make ''awamori'' at the time that the word was first used.

Another hypothesis is that the name comes from a method that was used in the past for assessing the quality of distilled liquors. This method was to slowly pour the liquor from a small bowl held in one hand into an empty bowl held in the other hand about one foot below. The desired result was for a large number of small to in the lower bowl as the liquor is poured into it. Longer-lasting bubbles were also seen as desirable.

See also

* Habushu
* List of rice beverages

Notes

References

* Okinawa Prefectural Government, "Awamori", Okinawa: Cultural Promotion Division, Okinawa Tourism and Cultural Affairs Bureau, 1996.

External links

What is Awamori?RYUKYU1429 Awamori

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Rice drinks
Japanese distilled drinks
Okinawan cuisine
Japanese drinks